Cracked Cylinder Head- Need advice

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I’ll try to make a long story short. For the past couple of months, my 2020 Jeep gladiator had been losing coolant and I was getting a cylinder misfire code. One mechanic said getting to cylinder five was an intensive job and then I should make a One mechanic said getting to cylinder five was an intensive job and then I should make an appointment. In the meantime, it might just drive a little rough. It was actually driving fine, but before I could schedule an appointment that fit my schedule- my car overheated one day.

I had the car towed to a different mechanic who came highly recommended from a friend. He did a compression test and said the engine was “perfect.” he said it was a water cooler problem and replaced it. Because the jeep has 102,000 miles on it. He also replaced the thermostat and oil cooler six spark plugs and six ignition coils. He said if the engine was already open, let’s replace the things that it will need.

Well, I kept getting the misfire code over the next two weeks. It kept going back into the shop. And it kept happening. Finally one day he drops a camera down into the cylinder and sees that there’s coolant leaking into the cylinder. He then it says it needs a new cylinder head. He installs it with new camshaft and lifters. After all that hassle, the job cost me $7000- including the new water pump, coils, etc. It was not fun. I have many new parts but suddenly don’t have a lot of confidence in this Jeep that I love.


Now the advice part—

The car has been paid off for about a year and a half. I love having the gladiator. Should I continue to drive it for a few more years knowing that it has many new parts or should I trade it in for gently used gladiator? That way I’ll be back under a warranty and a powertrain warranty. I could get about $18,000 on the trade-in.

Thoughts on my next move?

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[JmattNYC]

You can prob get the new everything for that price.. If you love this one, stay with with and am sure any new powertrain replacements have some type of warrenty if your worried about that. If you want to go new route, 18K is not bad.. F*ck it thou ask them for 20k-22k because these greedy mofo delaers will sell it for 27-29k.

 

[Brad.Clarkston]

Or, (stay with me here) go for a hemi swap!!!!!

That or just trade in for a new Joose Rubicon and then get a Hemi swap!!

 

[CrazyCooter]

The cost differential between the trade in loss, newer vehicle cost, sales tax and fees on the new purchase, and possibly higher registration tags........Might almost cover a hemi swap! Surely it would cover A LOT more repairs should they come up. No guarantee that the previous owner didn't dump the perfect looking low mile JT becuse it was a pos and here you come to snatch up that headache. At least this way you know what yo have?

Put away the monthly payment amount into a high yield savings account for repairs. If they don't ever come up, you have a big down payment on the next one, hemi swap, or an aux retirement fund. We keep our vehicles for 12-20 years and this is what I do personally. If they do, you have the funds to cover the repairs.

I also weigh out the cost of collision insurance vs what the insurance company will pay out for repairs or total loss and have come out WAY ahead over the past 25 years on vehicles we have chosen to not to fully insure........Like $27K ahead!

Transportation is a cost no matter what you do, so consider it that way. I put a cost per mile or time of enjoyment to almost everything I do........If it's not worth it, time to make changes!

 

[S JEEPN]

I always like having a paid off vehicle similar to the above comment instead of a payment you can save it, invest it or live better with out a payment as long as you are satisfied with it i would place my bet towards keeping it. The $18k sounds good to put towards another one as long as the trading in doesn't actually just limit what you can get off the replacements price. I could not see a used one being worth it unless it had must have features and really good warranty equivalent to new. I take care of vehicles so I would not even think of trading in what I have for a similar used vehicle of unknown history but it is always nice to have new. You could bargain down a new Willys into the high 30s to low 40s similar to the price of what you could get a sport for with not many options and the Rubicon's and Mojave's 40s to low 50s depending on options making it hard for a used one with unknown history to be a worthwhile option.

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